The first three releases in the long awaited Led Zeppelin re- issue programme will be available from June 2nd, 2014.

This will see the release of Led Zeppelin 1, Led Zeppelin II and Led Zeppelin III – all with additional content.

Here are the details:

Led Zeppelin

First Three Albums Newly Remastered By Jimmy Page,

Each With An Additional Disc Of Previously Unreleased

Companion Audio

Multiple CD, Vinyl, And Digital Formats,

Including Limited Edition Super Deluxe Boxed Set, Available June 2

John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant came together in 1968 as Led Zeppelin. Over the next decade, the band would become one of the most influential, innovative and successful groups in modern music, selling more than 300 million albums worldwide. Their songs are some of the most celebrated in rock ‘n’ roll history that, to this day, resonate with fans young and old around the globe. Still, no matter how many times you may have listened to their music, you’ve never heard Led Zeppelin like this before.

With the June 2 release of deluxe editions of Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II, and Led Zeppelin III, the band will launch an extensive reissue program of all nine of its studio albums in chronological order, each remastered by guitarist and producer Jimmy Page. Led Zeppelin will also open its vaults to share dozens of unheard studio and live recordings, with each album featuring a second disc of companion audio comprised entirely of unreleased music related to that album.

“The material on the companion discs presents a portal to the time of the recording of Led Zeppelin,” says Page. “It is a selection of work in progress with rough mixes, backing tracks, alternate versions, and new material recorded at the time”

Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II, and Led Zeppelin III will each be available June 2 from Atlantic/Swan Song in the following formats:

o High quality print of the original album cover, the first 30,000 of which will be individually numbered.

o Led Zeppelin will also include a replica of the band’s original Atlantic press kit.

The Led Zeppelin legend began in January of 1969 with the group’s eponymous debut. From the opening salvo of “Good Times Bad Times,” on through to “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You,” “Communication Breakdown,” and “Dazed And Confused,” the album introduced the band’s unmistakable sound and left an indelible mark on the music landscape. Led Zeppelin has been certified diamond by the RIAA for sales over 10 million and was inducted into the Grammy® Hall of Fame in 2004.

The companion audio for Led Zeppelin features a previously unreleased performance recorded on October 10, 1969 at the Olympia Theatre in Paris. The nine-song set features seven tracks from the album, including an epic 15-minute version of “Dazed And Confused,” as well as “Heartbreaker” and “Moby Dick,” which would debut on Led Zeppelin II later that month.

The band wrote and recorded nearly all of Led Zeppelin II while touring relentlessly to support its debut album. Incredibly, the album was released just seven months after Led Zeppelin in October of 1969. Led Zeppelin II features some of the band’s most beloved tracks including “Ramble On” and “Heartbreaker” as well as “Whole Lotta Love,” considered by many to be one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll songs of all time. The album is certified diamond by the RIAA with sales of over 12 million copies.

The Led Zeppelin II companion audio gives fans the first peek into the band’s recording sessions, with alternate mixes of five songs from the album, backing tracks to “Thank You” and “Living Loving Maid (She’s Just A Woman),” and the previously unreleased track “La La.”

Following the whirlwind success of their first two albums and near constant touring, Page and Plant took to the now famous Bron-Yr-Aur cottage in Wales in 1970 to start the early composition of Led Zeppelin III. They later convened with Bonham and Jones for rehearsals before entering London’s Olympic Studios to begin recording in May 1970. Fuelled by classic tracks such as “Immigrant Song” and “Since I’ve Been Loving You,” the album soared to the top of charts worldwide upon its release in October of 1970 and has since been certified 6x platinum.

The nine tracks featured on Led Zeppelin III’s companion audio continue to offer a window into the band’s recording process with seven studio outtakes of songs from the album as well as three previously unheard compositions: “Jennings Farm Blues” (an instrumental forerunner of “Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp”), “Bathroom Sound” (an instrumental version of “Out On The Tiles”), and their take on the blues classics “Keys To The Highway/Trouble In Mind.”

Led Zeppelin continues to be honoured for its pivotal role in music history. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, and a year later was awarded with the Polar Music Prize in Stockholm. Founding members Jones, Page and Plant – along with Jason Bonham, the son of John Bonham – took the stage at London’s O2 Arena in 2007 to headline a tribute concert for Ahmet Ertegun, a dear friend and Atlantic Records’ founder. The band was honoured for its lifetime contribution to American culture at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012. In January of 2014, the band won their first ever Grammy award as Celebration Day, which captured their live performance at the Ertegun tribute concert, was named Best Rock Album.

Led Zeppelin

Track Listing

1. “Good Times Bad Times”

2. “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”

3. “You Shook Me”

4. “Dazed And Confused”

5. “Your Time Is Gonna Come”

6. “Black Mountain Side”

7. “Communication Breakdown”

8. “I Can’t Quit You Baby”

9. “How Many More Times”

Companion Audio Disc

Live At The Olympia – Paris, France

October 10, 1969

1. “Good Times Bad Times/Communication Breakdown”

2. “I Can’t Quit You Baby”

3. “Heartbreaker”

4. “Dazed And Confused”

5. “White Summer/Black Mountain Side”

6. “You Shook Me”

7. “Moby Dick”

8. “How Many More Times”

Led Zeppelin II

Track Listing

1. “Whole Lotta Love”

2. “What Is And What Should Never Be”

3. “The Lemon Song”

4. “Thank You”

5. “Heartbreaker”

6. “Living Loving Maid (She’s Just A Woman)”

7. “Ramble On”

8. “Moby Dick”

9 ”Bring It On Home”

Companion Audio Disc

1. “Whole Lotta Love”

2. “What Is And What Should Never Be”

3. “Thank You”

4. “Heartbreaker”

5. “Living Loving Maid (She’s Just A Woman)”

6. “Ramble On”

7. “Moby Dick”

8. “La La”

9. “Bring It On Home”

Led Zeppelin III

Track Listing

1. “Immigrant Song”

2. “Friends”

3. “Celebration Day”

4. “Since I’ve Been Loving You”

5. “Out On The Tiles”

6. “Gallows Pole”

7. “Tangerine”

8. “That’s The Way”

9. “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp”

10. “Hats Off To (Roy) Harper”

Companion Audio Disc

1. “The Immigrant Song”

2. “Friends”

3. “Celebration Day”

4. “Since I’ve Been Loving You”

5. “Bathroom Sound”

6. “Gallows Pole”

7. “That’s The Way”

8. “Jennings Farm Blues”

9. “Keys To The Highway/Trouble In Mind”

………………………………………….

Get ready for the summer of Led Zeppelin 2014…

The announcement of the re –issuing of the first three Led Zeppelin albums with additional content is a mouthwatering prospect for Led Zep fans the world over.

The inclusion of a companion disc for each of the albums will provide the opportunity to learn much more than we already know about the process that created the music – and the immediate impact it had upon their original release over forty years ago.

In the case of the debut album –there will first hand evidence of their on the road prowess during that first year together – a live recording of their appearance at the Olympia Paris on October 10th, 1969. Originally broadcast at the time by French radio station Europe 1, this has seeped out unofficially on CD following a re- broadcast in December 2007.

I have no problem with that fact – as there is already proven evidence of what Jimmy Page can achieve given an original archive source to work with – look no further than the sound re- production he achieved with the 1970 Royal Albert Hall show for the 2003 official DVD. True we may have heard some of the Olympia show before…but in my view we will not have heard it in the way it should be until the lead guitarist of the group provides his unique sonic overhaul on this new issue of Led Zeppelin I.

As for the outtake material lined up for Led Zeppelin II and III, I would envisage that this unlocking of the archive material will reveal a texture and atmosphere that admirably compliments the officially released versions – and most importantly of all, offers vital evidence into the creative procedure that duly made these songs what they were.

When I spoke to Jimmy last November at the MusicMania fair he was very enthusiastic about making this material available stating ’’ The version of Since I’ve Been Loving You is so dramatic”.

And enthusiastic he should be as he the spent the past two years diligently preparing these releases. In the wake of The Beatles and Pink Floyd re issues of recent years, Led Zeppelin are finally unlocking their archive key.

The opportunity to have these albums remastered and on vinyl again in these extended version is also an awesome prospect. The packaging and photo content looks amazing. With it of course will come all the hyperbole of the social media world. The interviews, the magazine covers, the debates, the feedback – and let’s not forget that there are another six albums in this extended format to follow…!

Of course there will also be much debate about what should and hasn’t been included. The way I see it is this – this is the way Jimmy Page has ultimately decided these releases should be presented – Fans may (will!) bemoan the lack of unreleased songs but realistically he can only work with what is left in the archive.

I have the utmost respect for his decision making and have trusted his musical instincts for some 45 years. He hasn’t let us down yet and looking at the track listings, he looks once again to have done an admirable job. Jimmy Page is the true sonic architect and these releases will be yet further proof…

I fully intend to make the various TBL platforms of the website and magazine a key forum to celebrate these releases, as we have done in the past with the likes of the Celebration Day film etc. Be sure to let us know what you think…more on all this soon.

Meanwhile be prepared for the summer of Led Zeppelin 2014.

As Jimmy explained to me last November: ‘’Each of the companion discs will be like looking through a portal and seeing where we were at during that particular stage.”

Get ready to peer into the portal and be enthralled by these first three Led Zeppelin albums all over again…

Dave Lewis – March 13th, 2014

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The Hi Fi Lounge/TBL Zep day staged last Saturday proved to be a great success.

Gary, myelf, Tom and Phil arrived at the Hi Fi Lounge just after 9.30 – the Welsh contingent of Richard Martin and Bill were already there. We kicked it off around 10am and there was a steady turn out throughout the day

Early visual highlights included the Royal Albert Hall from the official DVD which looked and sounded amazing.

Downstairs in the reception area it was great to meet and greet attendees as they arrived throughout the day including Mark Harrison, Cliff the ticket man, Ian Avey, Dena Zarans, Matt O Kane, Martyn Vail, Gary Davies, Matt O Kane, Kevin Killoran and a few new faces.

Paul and Wendy were fantastic hosts and Wendy kept the refreshments and food going throughout the day.

Other highlights:

Hearing the whole of side one of Led Zeppelin II classic vinyl pressing through the amazing PMC speakers. You could hear a pin drop between tracks as we sat enthralled…

Cliff Hilliard with his legendary ticket collection (in a tin!). He easily answered my challenge of finding the tickets to the 14 gigs Zep I attended spanning 1971 -1980.

The Celebration Day on Blue-ray looked and sounded fantastic and it was hard not to be moved by viewing the unfolding footage of that amazing night in such clarity.

Other footage that delighted included theStairway sequence from Earls Court May 25th, the Keith Moon LA Forum 1977 cine film, the Night Flight première from the ULU Page &Plant gig in 1998, great Unledded tour clips from Australia ’96, the Knebworth ‘90 Jimmy & Robert reunion and the Achilles Last Stand cine film mix.

There was also more mighty impressive playbacks on vinyl including side one of Coda and Physical Graffiti with the likes of In My Time Of Dying proving a near vinyl religious experience.

Being in a rural area and not far from Knebworth, itself, the opportunity to recreate the famous group pose in the field was too good to miss. here’s Ian,Tom ,Gary and Myself outstanding in the field…

Finally…fond farewells were said as we wrapped it up around 7pm. Though the evening continued for Tom, Phil and I plus the two Gary’s and Richard G Bill who were stating over –we ventured into town for some beers and a curry. You gotta do it-though I was a bit exhausted the next day!

All in all it was fantastic to be out of our dens and in the company of like minded enthusiasts digging the music in such a wonderful setting -there was a superbly relaxed vibe about the proceedings throughout day.

Many again thanks to Paul and Wendy for opening up the Hi Fi Lounge facilities to make this a day to remember. DL

Here’s some feedback: This from Paul and Wendy…

Hi Everyone,

Both Wendy and myself just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who came along to our Led Zeppelin day yesterday and what a day it was with a fantastic turnout, who would have thought that Led Zeppelin were so popular!

From 9am till 8pm we pretty much rammed to capacity with most of the time standing room only available in the main demo room upstairs where we were playing a variety of vinyl, cd and some extremely rare video footage, at one point I thought we were going to have to lock the doors but I think we just about got away with it and everyone seemed to have a great time.

I’d like to thank Dave Lewis for helping promote it and run the day and also for making it so much fun, there really isn’t nothing he doesn’t know about Led Zeppelin, a real fountain of knowledge and a top bloke, so thanks again Dave.

Have I been converted to all things Led Zeppelin? well after around 12 hours of being blasted constantly with a variety of their music I have to admit to being a bit Led Zepped out at the moment, but there is some of their music that I really liked and even ended up with a favourite Led Zeppelin song, which wasn’t Stairway to Heaven, which it previously had been, that song being ‘Trampled Under Foot’ a really great song and as I understand all the albums are due to be remastered and re-relased this year, so that will make a good time to explore Led Zeppelin further.

So thanks again to everyone who came along for helping make it so much fun and hope to see you at our next Open Day, the PMC and Bryston Annual Owners Club on April 12th.

My wife and I had a great day at Hi Fi Lounge yesterday. We really enjoyed ourselves. It was enjoyable meeting fellow enthusiasts none of whom we had met before. It would be great to think that in the future there will be similar gatherings which we could attend. Paul and his wife made us very welcome – could not have asked for more. (Thinking about some new speakers – if I do go ahead then I will get them from Hi Fi Lounge ).

This from Kevin Killoran:

Hi Dave – I just would like to say thanks for organizing a fantastic day on sat at the Hi Fi lounge it really was mind blowing listening and watching zep like that i didn’t stop smiling thinking about it since ! The food and coffee was a lovely touch as well.

So all in all a great day – we are certainly looking at staging another event at the Hi Fi Lounge at some point ahead.

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TBL 2014 Subscriptions:

I should be in a position over the next week or so, to announce details of the 2014 TBL Subscription offer.

If you are a current TBL subscriber, the forthcoming issue TBL 37 effectively ends the current subscription – it will then be time to re subscribe for the next three issues – namely TBL 38, 39 and 40. More on all this soon

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Knebworth book feedback:

Here’s some recent feedback on the Then As It Was Led Zeppelin At Knebworth 79 book:

Dave,

I just wanted to thank you again. My book arrived yesterday and I was very excited when I saw it at my front door! The amount of time and effort that you put into it is phenomenal! I really do appreciate all that you do for us fans. Ironically enough, the book’s color scheme goes directly with my 1999 signed and numbered 287/1000 Frederick Bannister unused Knebworth framed poster! I have many hours of enjoyment in front of me. I was just getting ready to turn 11 years old two days after the second concert took place. I look forward to drifting back to the timeframe when I first ‘discovered’ the Mighty Zep. Once again, Eye Thank Yew.

DL Diary Update: Well the news we have all been waiting for is finally out….and what a mouthwatering prospect there is in store. Early June is going to be yet another celebration day as we soak up the contents of yet more colour to the Zep canvas. It’s been an incredible past hour as the news has broken – and yes that phrase springs to mind yet again…not just a band…more a way of life…81 days and counting….

…………

As can be seen above the Hi Fi Lounge event was a corker – one of the best TBL gatherings in a long while. The whole vibe was just fantastic and it was so good to hook up with many people I have not seen for far too long – notably Gary Foy Gary Davies, Cliff Hilliard, Ian Avey, Dena Zarans and Mark Harrison. We of course kept the party going with a few drinks in town ( we being myself, Tom, Phil the two Gary’s and the welsh boys Richard and Bill) A curry was the expected finale. It was good to wind down on Sunday morning and catch up with thee two Gary’s and Welsh boys again in the morning at their hotel before fond farewells were said.

There was a tinge of sadness as we all returned to our respective Zep dens. It can be somewhatl isolating working from home as I do. Being out of our respective Zep dens and listening to (in splendid sound) watching footage of and discussing with like minded devotees, the band that continues to inspire our lives has therefore been an absolute tonic….but of course this is not just a band…it’s a way of life and the Hi Fi Lounge event was another welcomed opportunity to celebrate that fact…

It’s been back to full on TBL project mode this week and ahead here is an intensive week on the TBL 37 text with various pages to complete. 5am starts have been the norm. There will be a little respite to watch the Spurs v Arsenal game in the local Fox pub on Sunday afternoon (come on you Spurs!) and Tom and I may well rendezvous back at the Hi Fi Lounge to check out a turntable Tom is eying.

On the playlist, plenty of Bad Company spurred on by in Classic Rock’s excellent fan pack magazine/DVD which I got this week. The Straight Shooter album sounding particularly fine – love the strings on Weep No More and the sheer groove of Wild Fire Woman. It’s an album that instantly takes me back to that pre Zep at Earls Court ’75 period when it was released.

Zep wise the prep for the Hi Fi Lounge event had me searching through a fair few bits and pieces of which the Birth of the Gods CD reflecting Mike T’s early 1969 feature has been back on.

I’ve also been listening to tracks from the forthcoming California Breed album featuring Glenn and Jason.

There’s also been a couple of notable local vinyl finds as follows…

Vinyl Find 1: On Wednesday, after finishing the corrections on MikeTremaglio’s TBL 37 piece at Mick’s Studio Mix place, I headed to the RSPCA charity shop to check the books out – picked up the excellent Peter Gulralnick Elvis Presley biography Careless Love for a quid…looked over at the stack of LP’s – all MFP and classical except for one sitting on the top….you could not make it up. For there sitting proud was a US copy of Led Zeppelin II in the original sturdy sleeve and pressing in pretty good nick.

£9.99 was the asking price (they knew this was no ordinary charity shop LP!), and I coughed up straight away. I have a fair few UK pressings but no US so I had to have it. I’m looking at it now –this goes beyond the music (which we know is brilliant). This is a true artefact, a genuine living breathing long playing record – one of thousands of copies sold in America as Zep were creating history. So yes this is history…the Brown Bomber aka Led Zeppelin II. It feels a whole lot better here for being in its presence.

Vinyl Find 2: Then after picking up the Led Zep II album, there was more obscure vinyl delight to be had in the Oxfam shop – namely the The Circle Game the 1968 album from folk rock singer songwriter Tom Rush. A real period classic on the UK Elektra Records label then distributed by Polydor – a mono pressing at that. This has his versions of songs by Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor. It also has Rush’s own much covered No Regrets – a hit here for the Walker Brothers. It was this version Robert Plant drew on for his own cover of the song as performed in in his Priory Of Brion outfit circa 1999 -2000. The photo on sleeve was taken by Linda Eastman later to be Linda McCartney.

Vinyl… you just gotta absolutely love it…and from June 2nd there will be even more Zep vinyl configurations to revel in…the prospect is awesome…

DL – March 13th, 2014.

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Until next time…Keep listening, keep reading…

Have a great weekend…

Dave Lewis/Gary Foy – March 13th , 2014.

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Well, all very nice to have some ‘new material’, but to be honest , ” How Many more Times ” do people have to purchase what they probably already have ?

Personally, I’m more looking forward to new Sir JPP material yet to be ‘ unleashed’ in 2014.

# 17 March 2014 at 9:52 pm

Steven Edwards said:

I partly agree with Stephen. Whilst I am mildly excited about these releases coming out, I’m really not sure that I need yet another live version of Communication Breakdown or Dazed and Confused. Would have loved, instead, to hear live versions of As Long as I Have You, I Gotta Move, etc. – stuff that we don’t already have various live versions of. When I say this, I certainly don’t mean to sound ungrateful – I remember how, not so long ago, there was just the studio albums and TSRTS; we have been spoiled in recent years, and how great that has been. I just wish there was a little more variety in the set lists of the live stuff that has been released. I do echo Stephen’s call for more later live material, though, in the releases still to come – I’d certainly trade another early Communication Breakdown for the Trampled Underfoot from Zurich 1980, for example, or a good Ten Years Gone from 1977. And also, I AM grateful that Zep are putting these sets out – I am a huge fan and will probably end up buying them, and will certainly enjoy everything on them, I’m sure. Maybe I was just hoping there would be a little more of real, heart-grabbing interest on there. I of course don’t have the full picture until I’ve heard everything, and I hope that I will be pleasantly surprised, but backing tracks and alternate mixes hold limited appeal for me. I was hoping for more unreleased tracks, unfinished tracks, works in progress etc, though I realise that if the material simply doesn’t exist then that idea is a non-starter.

# 17 March 2014 at 9:22 am

Stephen said:

Instead of remasters and outtakes, I would much rather have a live album from each tour from 1969-80. I think most Zep fans want that too. It wouldn’t have to be a single concert, but the best versions of songs from various gigs on the whole tour. That way it could always pass the high quality benchmark Page sets. Okay, 1980 might be a bit of a push but I’m sure tracks could be salvaged from the better nights of that tour. That would be a more complete legacy. We already have quite substantial releases of live versions from the early years (1969-71) (Do we really need Paris, it’s not that exciting for me) 1975 onward is very poorly documented on official audio releases.

# 17 March 2014 at 4:13 am

Wools said:

Dave,
Thank you for the excellent news; another “Mighty Led Zep” summer to look forward towards! Always a thrill to see Led Zep represented at the local record shop!

Wools

Las Vegas, NV. USA

# 16 March 2014 at 2:33 pm

Mara said:

Hello everyone!I’m from Moscow, can I book CDs from here?

# 16 March 2014 at 9:21 am

Ken said:

Has anyone else listened to the very end of the Whisky A-Go-Go 01/05/69 live bootleg for the “Chest Fever” Led Zep outtake? As the fans are leaving the show, “Chest Fever” comes over the PA system and it sure sounds like Bonham’s drumming/Page’s guitar!!!!! Looks like that’s the closest I will ever get to hearing their version.

# 15 March 2014 at 9:34 am

Rob said:

What a treat!

Two questions for anyone who may have some insight:

1.) Does anyone know anything about the song, “La La.”

2.) Why isn’t “Hey, Hey, What Can I Do?” included on the track listing for the Zep III reissue? I thought it would be an “obvious” inclusion for a Zep III expanded album.

Cheers!

# 14 March 2014 at 11:28 pm

Ken said:

Disappointed that Zep are not including “My Baby”, “Flames” or “Chest Fever” on the re-issue of Led Zeppelin I.

# 14 March 2014 at 5:06 pm

Lee Matthews said:

‘Meanwhile be prepared for the summer of Led Zeppelin 2014’

Looking forward to it…sounds like an excuse for a TBL get-together somewhere…

Warning to Australian fans: There is an extortionate price differential between USA prices and prices “offered” by LZ’s Australian record company. On Amazon USA, the super deluxe box set (2LPs, 2CDs, plus hard cover book and print), costs USD$120.59, including postage, to Melbourne. The link through the Australian social media promotion through to JB HiFi has the same set for AUD$219. As the small boy on the ABC TV Checkout ad says, “SCAM!” No wonder Australian retail is dying!

# 14 March 2014 at 8:59 am

Byron Lewis said:

The additional print material looks enticing, can’t wait.

# 13 March 2014 at 10:29 pm

Richard Grubb said:

Those Super Deluxe sets look stunning! Yes, just bread and water for me between now and Christmas, maybe a spare kidney to flog on eBay…it’s got to be done!

Only 81 days to go…tick tock!

# 13 March 2014 at 9:51 pm

John Webster said:

Dave, Super deluxe box sets for all 3 ordered. Now have to book day off from work to make sure I get them on release day. Can’t wait.

# 13 March 2014 at 9:11 pm

andrew R said:

Dave i agree, to know that this lp was in the shops when Zeppelin were storming America! Doesnt matter how good the reissues are (and i will succumb!)nothing beats vintage vinyl!Good catch mate well done.

# 13 March 2014 at 8:26 pm

Mark said:

Just placed the pre-order for the Led Zeppelin I Super Deluxe Box Set at Amazon. C’mon June 3rd!

# 13 March 2014 at 7:26 pm

Ian Avey said:

Fantastic new about the re-issues and I can’t wait to see and hear them. Sounds like it will be an expensive June though!

# 13 March 2014 at 5:10 pm

Donny said:

What a great and most pleasing info of the week, Dave … BRAVO !!!

Ohh, my God … Finally …

Is it really no “Bring It on Home” on Disc 1 (the remastered version) ???